June 25, 2013 1:28 PM

The march from Selma to Montgomery was a civil rights event leading up to the Voting Rights Act of 1965, part of which was rejected today by the Supreme Court. Here is a look back at the march:

Civil rights demonstrators, led by Dr Martin Luther King (not pictured), arrive in Montgomery from Selma on March 26, 1965 in Alabama, on the third leg of the Selma to Montgomery marches. The Selma-to-Montgomery March for voting rights ended three weeks and represented the political and emotional peak of the modern civil rights movement. The first march took place on March 07, 1965 ("Bloody Sunday") when 600 civil rights marchers were attacked by state and local police.

American singer and activist Harry Belafonte sings a duet with singer Odetta Holmes (1930 - 2008) at the 'Stars for Freedom' rally, Montgomery, Alabama, March 24, 1965. The rally occurred on the last night of the historic Selma to Montgomery march in support of voter rights; the following day, 25,000 marchers, led by American Civil Rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., arrived at the State Capitol Building and listened to King deliver his 'How Long, Not Long' speech. Singer and activist Harry Belafonte (left) stands behind him. less

American singer and activist Harry Belafonte sings a duet with singer Odetta Holmes (1930 - 2008) at the 'Stars for Freedom' rally, Montgomery, Alabama, March 24, 1965. The rally occurred on the last night of ... more

High-angle view of American Civil Rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (1929 - 1968), flanked by Reverend Ralph Abernathy (1926 - 1990) and Pulitzer-Prize winning political scientist and diplomat Ralph Bunche (1904 - 1971) during the third Selma to Montgomery march for voting rights, Selma, Alabama, March 21, 1965. The first and second marches, earlier in the month had been stopped, the first violently, by police and state troopers; the third march was completed, under the protection of federally ordered National Guardsmen. less

This aerial view shows a half-mile-long column of civil rights demonstrators, led by Dr Martin Luther King, on March 21, 1965 in Selma, Alabama, as they cross the Edmund Pettus bridge, scene of recent confrontation between demonstrators and state troopers, on the third leg of the Selma to Montgomery marches. Police attacked civil-rights marchers outside Selma, Alabama, on Bloody Sunday, March 7, 1965. The Selma-to-Montgomery March for voting rights ended three weeks and represented the political and emotional peak of the modern civil rights movement. less

This aerial view shows a half-mile-long column of civil rights demonstrators, led by Dr Martin Luther King, on March 21, 1965 in Selma, Alabama, as they cross the Edmund Pettus bridge, scene of recent ... more

Civil rights demonstrators, led by Dr Martin Luther King, make their way from Selma to Montgomery on March 21, 1965 in Alabama, on the third leg of the Selma to Montgomery marches. The Selma-to-Montgomery March for voting rights ended three weeks and represented the political and emotional peak of the modern civil rights movement. The first march took place on March 07, 1965 ("Bloody Sunday") when 600 civil rights marchers were attacked by state and local police. less

Civil rights demonstrators, led by Dr Martin Luther King, make their way from Selma to Montgomery on March 21, 1965 in Alabama, on the third leg of the Selma to Montgomery marches. The Selma-to-Montgomery March ... more

Marchers, carrying state and American flags, pause for a moment of silence during the Selma to Montgomery march held in support of voter rights.

Marchers, carrying state and American flags, pause for a moment of silence during the Selma to Montgomery march held in support of voter rights.

Photo: Robert Abbott Sengstacke, Getty Images

Marchers, carrying state and American flags, pause for a moment of... Photo-4834161.65211 - StamfordAdvocate

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The actor and civil rights activist Harry Belafonte smiles broadly while marching with National Urban League director Whitney Young (1921 - 1971) and NAACP executive secretary Roy Wilkins (1901 - 1981), from Selma to the state capital of Montgomery, Alabama, March 1965. The actress Ina Balin is partly visible over Young's right shoulder. less

American Civil Rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (1929 - 1968) and his wife Coretta Scott King (1927 - 2006) (center right, hand in hand) lead others during on the Selma to Montgomery marches held in support of voter rights, Alabama, late March, 1965. Among those with them are Reverend Ralph Abernathy (1926 - 1990) (second from left, smiling), and Pulitzer-Prize winning political scientist and diplomat Ralph Bunche (1904 - 1971) (front row, in white short sleeved shirt). Bunche's wife, Ruth (nee Harris, 1906 - 1988), holds Abernathy's arm. less

American Civil Rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (1929 - 1968) and his wife Coretta Scott King (1927 - 2006) (center right, hand in hand) lead others during on the Selma to Montgomery marches held in ... more

Children watching a black voting rights march in Alabama. Dr Martin Luther King led the march from Selma, Alabama, to the state capital in Montgomery.

Children watching a black voting rights march in Alabama. Dr Martin Luther King led the march from Selma, Alabama, to the state capital in Montgomery.

Photo: William Lovelace, Getty Images

Children watching a black voting rights march in Alabama. Dr... Photo-4834140.65211 - StamfordAdvocate

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A line of policemen on duty during a black voting rights march in Montgomery, Alabama. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. led the march from Selma, Alabama, to the state capital in Montgomery.

A line of policemen on duty during a black voting rights march in Montgomery, Alabama. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. led the march from Selma, Alabama, to the state capital in Montgomery.

Photo: William Lovelace, Getty Images

A line of policemen on duty during a black voting rights march in... Photo-4834142.65211 - StamfordAdvocate

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Two protestors on a black voting rights march in Alabama. Dr Martin Luther King led the march from Selma, Alabama, to the state capital of Montgomery.

Two protestors on a black voting rights march in Alabama. Dr Martin Luther King led the march from Selma, Alabama, to the state capital of Montgomery.

Photo: William Lovelace, Getty Images

Two protestors on a black voting rights march in Alabama. Dr Martin... Photo-4834136.65211 - StamfordAdvocate

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Four white men watching a black voting rights march from Selma, Alabama, to the state capital in Montgomery.

Four white men watching a black voting rights march from Selma, Alabama, to the state capital in Montgomery.

Photo: William Lovelace, Getty Images

Four white men watching a black voting rights march from Selma,... Photo-4834137.65211 - StamfordAdvocate

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Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929 - 1968) talking with Chicago Defender Publisher John Henry Sengstacke (1912 - 1997) at the home where Dr. King spent the night in Montgomery, Alabama prior to the final day of the Selma to Montgomery march, 1965. From the Chicago Defender Collection. less

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929 - 1968) talking with Chicago Defender Publisher John Henry Sengstacke (1912 - 1997) at the home where Dr. King spent the night in Montgomery, Alabama prior to the final day of ... more

President Lyndon B Johnson (1908 - 1973) discusses the Voting Rights Act with civil rights campaigner Martin Luther King Jr. (1929 - 1968). The act, part of President Johnson's 'Great Society' program trebled the number of black voters in the south, who had previously been hindered by racially inspired laws, 1965. less

American President Lyndon B. Johnson (1908 - 1973) presents one of the pens used to sign the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to the director of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) James L. Farmer Jr (1920 - 1999), Washington DC, August 6, 1965. less

American President Lyndon B. Johnson (1908 - 1973) presents one of the pens used to sign the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to the director of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) James L. Farmer Jr (1920 - 1999), ... more